Water wheel



Sept. 4, 1926. 1,682,966

. J. J. HOPF'ES WATER WHEEL Filed July 14, 1924 Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. HOPPES, OF

WATER Application filed July 14,

My invention relates to improvements in water wheels, it moreparticularly relating to water Wheels of the axial iiow type.-

An object of my invention is to provide a wheel of this character whichwill be simple in its construction, economical in manufacture andeffective in its operation. I j

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve for controllingthe water flowing to the runner so shaped as to change the course of thewater and direct the same to the runner so as to furnish a true axialflow of water with the minimum amount of resistance. r

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement forcontrolhng the flow of water to a wheel of the axial flow type wherebythe water can be controlled by a single valve in distinction from aplurality of valves.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the improvements.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the upper radlus member on a reduced scale.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the penstock which forms asupport for the operating parts and constitutes a chamber 2 for thewater which supplies the runner. The bot-tom of this penstock isapertured to receive and support the cylinder 3 and draft tube 4, thedraft tube being provided with a bridge or spider 5 to support a bearing(3 for the lower end of the runner shaft 7. The runner consisting of ahub 8 and radial blades 8 is secured to the shaft 7 within the drafttube. The upper end of the shaft 7 extends to and is connected with therotor of a generator 9 mounted upon the deck or upper wall of thepenstock 1.

The cylinder 3 flares outwardly in the direction of its inlet end andhas a peripheral flange 8 at its upper end which rests upon and issecured to the bottom of the pens-took 1 to support the cylinder and itsdraft tube. Surrounding the shaft 7 in substantially concentric relationtherewith is a conical or pear-shaped valve 10 the lower end 10' ofwhich has a loose fit about the hub 8. The valve has an upwardlyextending hollow stem 11 which is supported by radius members 12 and 13.Each radius member is of a bifurcated nature as shown in Fig. 2 in which12 represents a pair of arms having their outer ends pivoted on a rod 13supported in the ears 14 of a bracket member 15,

SPRINGFIELD, QI-IIO.

WHEEL.

1924. Serial No. 725,788.

secured to the penstock, with their inner ends pivotally connected witha pair of trunnions 16 projecting from a collar 17 on the upper end ofthe valve stem 11. The arms of the radius members 13 are similarlypivoted at their outer ends on a rod 18 supported in the cars 19 of asimilar bracket 20 and have their inner ends pivotally connected totrunnions 21 projecting from a collar 22 secured to the valve stem nearits lower end.

The arms 12 are extended as indicated at 22 and the free ends of theextensions are pivotally connected by a link 23 to the piston rod 2 1,the piston of which operates in a cylinder 25 which forms a part ofhydraulic pressure devices of a well known type, these devices beingcontrolled by a centrifugal governor in a well known way.

The sides of the valve 10 are formed on curves which extend throughsubstantially ninety degrees of a circle, the sides of the lower part ofthe valve being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of therun ner and gradually curved outwardly so as to constitute in connectionwith the inner walls of the cylinder, a curved passageway which willdirect or change the course of the water from a substantially radialflow to an axial flow. The course of the water is thus changed in itsflow through the passageway and directed so as to give a true axial flowwith a minimum amount of resistance. Further, when the valve is adjusted to admit more or less water this has no effect upon the width ofthe stream of water as it leaves the passageway between the valve andcylinder, this width of water being substantially equal to the length ofthe blades so that the blades will have an effective impact surfacethroughout their entire length in whatever position of adjustment of thevalve.

Means are provided for adjusting the valve through the pressure cylinder25, the piston of which is connected to the extensions 22. hen the fluidpressure system is employed this adjustment is automatic depending uponthe speed of the runner. Instead of the automatic adjustment, however,hand operated means may be employed for adjusting the valve.

By the construction described it will be seen that the water will bedirected to the blades of the runner to give, the best results, thearrangement being such that the flow of. the water is directed from alateral or would interfere with the free flow of the water to therunner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In awater wheel, a runner having blades, a casing enclosing saidrunner, a valve controlling the inlet end of said casing and cooperatingtherewith to form a water passageway, a single centrally arranged stemconnected with said valve, and radius rods pivotally connecting saidstem with a stationary point.

2.7 In a water wheel, a runner having radial blades and an extended hub,an openended casing in which said runner is mounted, a valve in theinletend'of said casing cooperating with the same to direct the water inan axial direction with relation to said runner, said valve beingslidably mounted upon the extended hub of said runner. I

3. In a water wheel, a runner having radial blades and an extended hub,an openended casing in which said runner is mounted, a valve cooperatingwith said casing to direct the water in an axial direction with respectto said runner, a stem connected' with said valve and projecting awayfrom said. casing, and pivoted supports connected with said stem tosupport and position the valve, the space between said casing and valvebeing unobstructed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of Jully, 1924. V

I JOHN J OPPES.

